Preservation of timber.



No. 727,975. I I PATENTBD MAY 12, 1903'.

' R. KROLL.

PRESERVATION 0F TIMBER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1902;

N0 MODEL.

resented Ma 12, 190:5.

PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH KROLTJ, "OF SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA;

PRESERV ATION OF TIMBER.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 727,975, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed September 18,1902. Serial No. 123,-898. (No modela) To all whom it may concern:

- Beit known that I, RUDOLPH KROLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spearfish, in the county of Lawrenceand State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in thePreservation 'of Timber, of which the following is a specification.

Timber used for posts for stringing telegraph, telephone, and fence wires, for railroad-ties, for mining, and other operations is subject to rot and decay under Ordinary conditions, the same being hastened if dampness is present or the air in contact therewith is foul. The life of the timber is preserved if pure dry air is brought in contact therewith, this having been established by experiment and observation. 7 7

Therefore the object of this invention is a construction to enable the utilization of air to the best possible advantage for the preservation of timber, such as posts, poles, and beams of every description.

In accordance with this invention the timber is longitudinally bored, and lateral openings communicate with one end of the longitudinal bore and extend through the sides of the timber to admit air into the said bore. A passage connects one of the lateral openings with the opposite end of the longitudinal bore and extends about parallel with said bore and insures a circulation of air through the timber, whereby the life of thesame and its period of usefulness are prolonged. V

For a full description of the invention and{ the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a perspective viewgof a post or pole embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the lower end portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, taken on a plane at a right angle thereto.

Fig. at is a transverse section about on the .line a? m of Fig; 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. V

The invention is designed to'be applied to timber of any kind and for any purpose, and inasmuch as it is particularly adapted for fence-posts, telephone and telegraph poles, and like supports it is shown in the accompanying drawings as applied to a post or pole, the same being indicated at 1. A longitudinal bore 2 is provided in an end portion of the post or timber, preferablyin the lower end, which is adapted to be set into the ground, and this bore may extend into the post to any extent, so long as its upper end is considerably above the surface of the ground into which the post is planted. Lateral openings 3 extend inward from the sides of the post at an upward inclination and intersect with one another and with the longitudinal bore. These-lateral openings 3 admit air into the bore 2 and by inclining inwardly and upwardly rain, sleet, and the like are prevented from entering said openings and finding their way into the longitudinal bore. Apassagetparallels thelongitudinalbore and is in communication at its upper end with one of the lateral openings, and its lower end connects with the lower end portion of the longitudinal bore, so as to establish a circulation of air, which-is essential 'to the attainment of the objects of the invention. The passage 4: is straight, and the duct 5, connecting its lower end with the bore 2, is inwardly and downwardly inclined, and its lower end intersects with said bore.

The passage 4 may be provided in any way and preferably consists of a tube or pipe let into a side of the post or timber so as to come flush therewith, the end portions of the pipe having a snug fit with respectively the opening 3 and duct 5.

A pole or post provided with the invention and planted in the ground is adapted to have a circulation of air through the lower end, whereby the germs of decay are carried OE and the period of service of the post materially increased. By having the openings 3 at the several sides of the post advantage may be taken of a draft or current of air, so as to insure a forced circulation through the bore 2 and passage 4:.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In the art of preserving timber, a post or beam provided with a longitudinal bore, lateral openings in communication at one end with said bore and extending through the sides of the timber, and a passage about parallel with the longitudinal bore and in communication at one end with one of the aforesaid openings and having its opposite end in communication with the other end of said bore, substantially as set forth.

2. I11 the art of preserving timber, a post or beam having a longitudinal bore, a passage about parallel with said bore and having its end portions in communication with opposite ends of said bore by means of oppositely-inclined openings or ducts, and means for admitting air into the said longitudinal bore, substantially asset forth.

3. In the art of preserving timber, a post, beam or the like having a longitudinal bore, a tube or pipe at one side of said post and in communication at its ends with opposite ends of said longitudinal bore, and means for ad- Initting air into said longitudinal bore, substantially as specified.

4. A post or pole provided with a longitudinal bore at its lower end, upwardly and inwardly inclined lateral openings in communication at their inner ends with one another and with the upper end of said longitudinal bore, a downwardly and inwardly inclined duct in communication with the lower end of said longitudinal bore, anda passage at a side of said postin communication at its lower end with said d not and at its upper end with one of said lateral openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH KROLL. [L1 5.]

Witnesses:

W. H. Tom), W. W. PARKER. 

